Pennsylvania Democrats lined up behind Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday when she announced she would seek the party nomination after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed her. At the same time, some also suggested they would support Gov. Josh Shapiro as Harris’ vice presidential candidate, after he endorsed her in the presidential election.
“I have known Kamala Harris for nearly two decades — we have both been prosecutors, we have both stood up for the rule of law, we have both fought for people and we have achieved results,” Shapiro said Sunday. “Kamala Harris is a patriot worthy of our support and will continue the work of generations of Americans who came before us to perfect our union, protect our democracy and promote true freedom. She has served this country honorably as vice president and is ready to become president.”
Shapiro added that the best path forward for the Democratic Party “is to quickly unite around Vice President Harris and refocus on winning the presidency,” adding that the path to victory runs through Pennsylvania. “I will do everything in my power to help elect Kamala Harris as the 47th president of the United States.”
A spokesman for Shapiro confirmed the governor spoke with Harris on Sunday.
Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Bob Casey also endorsed Harris, a key endorsement from a longtime friend of Biden.
“With women’s rights, workers’ rights and voting rights at stake in this election for Pennsylvania and the Nation, the stakes could not be higher,” Casey said in a statement. “Vice President Harris has led this fight and, as a former prosecutor, stands in stark contrast to former President Trump. She is ready to be Commander in Chief and is the best person to rise to the occasion. I am proud to endorse her candidacy.”
U.S. Congresswoman Summer Lee (D-12th District), who earlier this month he defended Harris as the obvious Democratic choice if Biden were to withdraw, she reaffirmed her support on Sunday.
“We thank President Biden for doing what he believes is best for our country and making the difficult decision to step down,” Lee said in a speech. statement“We have no time to waste — what is at stake for communities like mine is not abstract. We must come together and move forward to defeat Trump and fascism in November. That is why I support and encourage unity around Vice President Kamala Harris.”
Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia) said she is grateful to Biden for his accomplishments in the Oval Office, but also recognizes that with age comes change that can make things more tough that weren’t tough a week, a month or even a year ago.
“I appreciate the fact that his tenacity has gotten him to this point,” McClinton said. “It was his decision to recognize how much work it will take over the next few months to reach out to the entire country, to get them fired up and ready to participate in our democracy. And most importantly, to defeat Trump.”
McClinton said Harris’ record as a public servant, prosecutor and defender of democracy and women’s rights prepared her to make history as the first female president in the country’s history.
“Who better to change the page on American history after 250 years?” McClinton, who is the first woman and first woman of color to serve as Pennsylvania’s speaker, told the Capital-Star on Sunday. Asked how Harris could secure swing votes in key states like Pennsylvania, McClinton said: “The best thing she can do is pick Gov. Josh Shapiro as her vice presidential running mate.”
Shapiro said his experience working with a divided legislature to pass bills to fix decades-long school funding inequities, return taxpayer money to seniors and fight for the rights of families, both as governor and attorney general, qualifies him for the job.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro would bring a battleground state and political savvy to the national election
“Of course, he didn’t have the privilege of defeating Trump personally, but running against the senator… [Doug] Mastriano, who was Trump’s favorite, defeated him by a landslide,” McClinton said. Shapiro defeated Mastriano in the 2022 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election by a margin of 15 points.
“Governor Josh Shapiro would be a great choice to reach independent voters, to convince moderate Republican voters,” McClinton added. “Given his electoral success in a battleground state like Pennsylvania, he would be a natural choice.”
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey he said in a statement that she looks forward to joining Harris on the campaign trail. “Kamala has the passion, energy and experience to win this race and deliver for the people of Pittsburgh,” Gainey said.
Montgomery County Commissioner Neil Makhija, who is a Pennsylvania delegate to next month’s Democratic National Convention, was among the first to endorse Harris on Sunday after Biden withdrew. Montgomery is Shapiro’s home county, where he previously served as a commissioner. ‘She can win, she will win, and PA will bring it home’ – said Makhija.
State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta (D-Philadelphia), who is running for state auditor general, supported Harris on Sunday in a social media thread in which he also praised Biden.
“In January, we will drop the word ‘vice’ and simply call her Madam President,” Kenyatta said.
On Sunday, Reps. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-5th District), Brendan Boyle (D-2nd District), Dwight Evans (D-3rd District) and Susan Wild (D-7th District) also endorsed Harris.
Shapiro is scheduled to be in Pittsburgh on Monday, where he will join U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan to announce local recipients of a climate grant program. It seems likely he will be asked about the events on Sunday.
This article was updated on July 21, 2024 at 9:54 p.m. to add that Shapiro spoke with Harris on Sunday.
